Just got a Four Wheel Popup! Got questions...

[UglyScout]

Found this on Craigslist last week after a month of searching for ANY 8' popup camper. The ad had no details - just a phone number and price. I went to look at it without knowing what it was at all, but willing to buy almost any model for the price he had it at - and was very pleased to discover it was a Four Wheel brand....

It was dirty and the fridge and and furnace don't work but it is complete and we have already taken it out camping!

I've also had my first experience with the Four Wheel company - I emailed them today inquiring about some small parts I needed - I didn't get an email response - but rather a phone call!!! Holy COW! What kind of company in 2010 calls people when they have questions? And I had cleared stated I had just bought a used model. NICE! If I wasn't sold already, I was just sold. I've owned it for less than 7 days and I am a convert.

 

[UglyScout]

So my first question is - where/how is the best way to tap into the 12v wiring to add a battery as this one does not have a 12v battery of its own?

It works fine plugged into my truck but I'd hate to run my truck battery dead because I wanted to leave the lights and furnace on all night or something.

I'd also like to add an inverter in at the same time - same question where/how is the best way to tie it into the 120V side of the camper so I'm not back feeding the plug in on the outside of the camper.

I'm new to campers but not new to vehicle or house wiring so you can get technical and not be wasting your time.

THANKS!

 

[tnt]

Hi Uglyscout,

Congrats on your purchase. You may want to do a search on Wander the West (my apologies to ExPo, just trying to help him out). Many of their members have Four Wheel Campers and have made these changes to their campers and made how-to posts with pictures and wiring diagrams.

 

[eugene]

Is your truck gas or diesel?

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

I can help you with some of your questions as soon as I get a little caught up here in the office.

Our service dept. will be the best place to call for parts and basic information.

I can chime in here on the forums to answer some questions too (as time allows).

More to follow soon ...

PS: I can probably help you get the refrigerator & furnace going.

They are pretty simple and usually work for many years without too many problems.

The refrigerators can be a bit tempermatic, but the furnaces are usually very reliable.


Happy Camping !


.


.

 

[UglyScout]

Is your truck gas or diesel?

My truck is a diesel and has 2 batteries already.

 

[eugene]

OK, you got what I was thinking, put the battery under the hood if not a diesel.
I have seen frame mounts for batteries, I prefer that, seems like a pain to me to have to pull the battery in and out of the truck bed to get the camper off and on, I wanted to make load and unload time as quick as possible.

 

[Mr. D]

congrats on your find

 

[greg mgm]

FYI- The guys at 4Wheel Campers are very helpful . Several years ago I bought an old 4Wheel pop up and needed many parts (siding, lifting parts, decals etc) and they got them to me quickly.

It's nice knowing they have replacement and repair parts available.

 

[UHAULER]

Wanderthewest is a good site for pop ups. Lots of info on repairs and modifications.

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/

 

[UglyScout]

So I think I've decided I need a Battery Separator to start my camper battery project. I'm going to put the battery and controls under the front couch compartment.

For a camper only battery would I need anything more than the Surepower 1314? It should keep me from sucking down the truck battery and allow me to charge back up when I run the truck. I already have dual batteries under the hood so I can't see the need to 'jump start' myself from the camper - AND my truck to camper wiring is WAY undersized to feed any useful amps back to the truck.

In my head I have the wiring coming in from the truck via the exisiting 2 wire +/-, going to the separator, going to the camper battery, out from the battery to the exisiting 12v fuse panel....

Then when I add a hard mounted 120v battery maintainer or solar charger or etc I would just go straight to the camper battery on the camper side of the separator and everything should be fine. Correct?

 

[UglyScout]

I've started building on it. And throwing money at it... And I thought truck parts added up fast. Yikes. I have almost doubled my initial purchase price.

Got the furnace working. Fully removed it and cleaned everything, what a pain that was. Still nothing. But at least I know it is clean and in great shape. Tried a new ignitor, that wasn't the problem. Had the board tested and it came up bad. So I ordered a new Dinosuar baord with Fan control - it fired on it's 2nd try!!! And blew enough hot air to cook me out in no time :wings:

Got a battery system wired in. I picked up a carquest/deka AGM battery. Ordered a SurePower 1314 separator and a trickle charger to add under the front couch. I have it all crammed into a 10" wide space in the middle. I ran all the wires through the cabinet below the fuse panel along the wall under the cabinet and into the front couch compartment. Standing in the camper you can't see any of the wires.

Pictures to follow.

Now on to the fridge. I'm pretty sure it needs some major work. The on/off gas valve is rusted and just spins. The 12v/gas switch does not move. The PO said it would work for a while after spending $200 at the RV shop - then be dead again by the next fishing season. He did that a couple times. I think my $200 might be better spent towards an Edgestar cooler and some nice plywood to make a cabinet out of the current fridge space!

 

[UglyScout]

Pics: