Alaskan Campers

[aknightinak]

One more question for you experts. I want to replace all the original interior lighting with LEDs. Where is the best place to get info on how to do this properly? Because of my eyes I want to go with 5-6000 Kelving bright whites.

No real voodoo to it, just swap the bulbs with their LED version—at least, that's all the previous owner of mine did (he wasn't very modification-minded). I'm running softer white than you're looking for, but they work well from both perspectives of brightness and energy conservation.

 

[fisher205]

No real voodoo to it, just swap the bulbs with their LED version—at least, that's all the previous owner of mine did (he wasn't very modification-minded). I'm running softer white than you're looking for, but they work well from both perspectives of brightness and energy conservation.

That's what I did in mine also and it worked well. You may want to consider different light ranges. My original bulbs were too bright and actually painful to use.

 

[WU7X]

That's what I did in mine also and it worked well. You may want to consider different light ranges. My original bulbs were too bright and actually painful to use.

Thanks for the insight,, I'll have to look into it. I'd like to even maybe replace the original mounts with ones that have the ability. to vary the output so that the LEDs can be brightened/dimmed as needed. We updated out home several years ago and switched to adjustable LEDs throughout. They work great!

Yaak River Falls in Montana. Northwest MT is stunning country. Grizzly habitat, so wise to carry bear spray.

 

[aknightinak]

Can we talk heat for a minute?

I picked up my '03 10 ft c/o mid-fall and am full-timing it in it this winter, in Maine, nowhere glamorous, but it is my castle for the moment. It's another story...or a parable for somebody maybe.

The consistency of the heating is challenging me most, more than that I, also, need new Pirellis or that the fuse holder in the cabin-area fan stripped out fairly promptly after purchase.

The range on the thermostat is such that to set it at a comfortable temperature, where I can get by comfortably inside without a coat, by the time the thermostat trips the heater again, I'm back in the coat. Net result, before long I'm just overheating and overcooling in my own perspiration for being too lazy to shed and don the coat every 20 minutes.

Can the old Dometic analog thermostat be tuned to maintain the temperature more consistently? More importantly, will these Atwoods handle that kind of duty cycle? I'd expect fuel consumption to be greater but also somewhat comparable, because it would be being asked to reheat the space more often but for fewer degrees of recovery at each cycle.

 

[Sparse Gray Hackle]

I suspect your Attwood can handle the cycle, and they’re usually pretty reparable.

If you’re not needing to drop the top every day, consider getting some foam pipe insulation to seal the gap between top and bottom, then replace your Pirelli seal at an appropriate opportunity. That fuse should be a big deal either.

For the record, I’d rather fight a man all day long before spending a Maine winter in any camper. You’re a brave man!

 

[aknightinak]

I've used reflectix the way you describe to keep the drafts out and covered the windows with it. The blinds, on their own and especially the one for the door, actually help trap a good bit of heat. Mostly, I'd just like the heat to kick when it drops, say, 5 degrees from the setting instead of what feels like 10 or 15. Overall, it's not terrible. I spent the last 30 years in Alaska (the last 12 just up the road from TruckHouse Tim) and did plenty of winter tent-camping there. I guess you could say I'm doing the housing market dance now, in order to be closer to family more often.

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

One more question for you experts. I want to replace all the original interior lighting with LEDs. Where is the best place to get info on how to do this properly? Because of my eyes I want to go with 5-6000 Kelving bright whites.

Bella is back in good form and ready to go on our first adventure.

View attachment 907197

I would just order LED bulbs off of amazon, lots of options with reviews.

I replaced the T stat in my outfitter with a Digital Battey powered one from one of the big box stores, worked way better. And I was able to set a differential.

 

[WU7X]

I would just order LED bulbs off of amazon, lots of options with reviews.

I replaced the T stat in my outfitter with a Digital Battey powered one from one of the big box stores, worked way better. And I was able to set a differential.

Need to drive out to the storage shed, pull some of the original bulbs, and order their LED counterparts. Thanks!

Can you give me a little more info on how you switched out the thermostat? I'm a bit of a Luddite.

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

I went back into my camper thread and grabbed this picture.
Sounds like I did it in the parking lot of the store with my Leatherman. I know it needed to be a battery powered simple one




Looks like its probably this one from a big orange box store

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Honeywell-Home-Horizontal-Non-Programmable-Thermostat-RTH111B/203539510#see-more-details

You should only have 2 wires on the back of your heater T stat. I can probably get pictures from the back of mine if you need.

But this video would be very close

 

[WU7X]

I went back into my camper thread and grabbed this picture.
Sounds like I did it in the parking lot of the store with my Leatherman. I know it needed to be a battery powered simple one
View attachment 907529



Looks like its probably this one from a big orange box store

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Honeywell-Home-Horizontal-Non-Programmable-Thermostat-RTH111B/203539510#see-more-details

You should only have 2 wires on the back of your heater T stat. I can probably get pictures from the back of mine if you need.

But this video would be very close

Most excellent good sir! Thank you so much!

 

[WU7X]

I just ordered this digital nonprogrammable thermostat off Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071X9DGHY?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

The price just jumped from $41 when I ordered it to $48 now!

I went with this one because it has numerous reviews from RV, camper, etc., owners have have given it excellent reviews. So I figure it should work out o.k. in the Alaskan Camper.

I also asked Bryan White about replacing the existing lights in the camper with LEDs. He recommended replacing the entire fixture(s) with new ones made to handle LED bulbs. His reasoning was that some of his customers just went with new LED bulbs off ebay or amazon and the bulbs got too hot. Also LEDs like clear lenses, not the translucent ones in a trailer like my older one.

Bryan is an incredible resource!

 

[WU7X]

I forgot to say that I don't have A/C in the camper so I was looking for a heater only version also.

 

[aknightinak]

I went back into my camper thread and grabbed this picture...

Thanks, PNY; it had occurred to me it might be that simple, but it occurred next that it might not, either, be that simple. I was at a blue store today, and their offerings weren't of a battery-backup variety. So, for the evening, I'm looking at this internal diagram I found, and that it's a clunky line drawing not withstanding, by comparison, the setting lever in mine is way (.125?) to the right of the anticipator. I recognize that's toggling the end of the firing cycle, but I messed with it anyway and set them to within a whisper of each other.

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

Thanks, PNY; it had occurred to me it might be that simple, but it occurred next that it might not, either, be that simple. I was at a blue store today, and their offerings weren't of a battery-backup variety. So, for the evening, I'm looking at this internal diagram I found, and that it's a clunky line drawing not withstanding, by comparison, the setting lever in mine is way (.125?) to the right of the anticipator. I recognize that's toggling the end of the firing cycle, but I messed with it anyway and set them to within a whisper of each other.

That could be it, let us know how it works.
I had trouble with mine needing adjusted a lot. Rough roads and temp swings.