Little Guy

[StumpXJ]

I want to gawk at Mikes shop, not work in it. :elkgrin:

Thats not how it works... I doubt that is what the box is. Does your trailer have a breakaway system? They usually have a battery, and a small pull out switch deal if the trailer should come unhooked, the battery sends full 12 volts to the brakes and locks them up.

The controller has to be inside the vehicle. The electric brakes on a trailer are pretty simple, and use a magnet/coil to control the shoe movement with a single input DC signal. And of course a ground wire. Thats it. Nothing else to the brakes on the trailer side. The heart of it all working is in the controller, which is inside the tow vehicle. Most controllers also have an emergency way of applying full stopping force (or a preset amount of force)to the trailer without pressing the brake pedal (usually a slide switch)

Some brake controllers are time delayed, and some are proportional. They both are very adjustable as far as how quickly they apply full braking force, and how much force to apply based on the weight of the trailer. You usually set the gain as high as possible up to the point before the wheels lock up.

Trust me, you dont have a controller under the trailer.

Have you decided which controller to get yet?

Here is a great info article on brake systems, it also shows a wiring diagram (you will appreciate just how simple it is...)

http://www.etrailer.com/faq-brakecontroller.aspx

 

[Hilldweller]

The guy at 3-Way Campers suggested a Tekonsha PRIMUS IQ Electronic Brake Controller - Proportional.

I just ordered it along with a 20-amp auto-reset breaker.
I have enough wire I think.

WT/TN wire by brake pedal or WT/DG under hood at relay for trip.

 

[JPK]

On page 10 I posted a link to installing a brake controller in a JK, the write up includes finding the wires you need to connect to and their colors. One that on other vehicles would be found near the brake pedal is better located under the hood near the cylinder.

I got the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 because it offer a three axis pendulum.

JPK

 

[Hilldweller]

More about the sink.

I tried to find the drain outlet to see what kind of hose I needed to attach. I looked underneath and couldn't find the outlet.
I looked and I looked.

So I dumped a cup of water down the drain. Swoosh, down the drain it went, gurgle gurgle twank twank ---- it spilled down the skidplate and found it's exit by the left wheel at the axle opening.

:Wow1:

No way to direct the grey water away from the nest. Hmmm. So if I do the dishes, I spill the grey water under my sleeping quarters.
Anybody see a potential problem with that? Like attracting critters (bears, raccoons, etc) and not treading lightly and all that?

I can remedy this by cutting the hose where it penetrates the floor and attaching more hose. Then I could direct that into a jerry-can when I use the sink and dispose of the water properly.

It's a real pretty trailer and we just had a great weekend camping in it. But I keep finding so many things that were half-assed or not thought through by a person who might actually camp. If it cost 30% less it wouldn't bother me...

The Jeep did not like towing this thing at all. Even using a Superchips Flashpaq set on "Towing" and with 93 octane fuel, it was pinging and could barely reach 45 mph going uphill.

 

[XJBANKER]

More about the sink.

I tried to find the drain outlet to see what kind of hose I needed to attach. I looked underneath and couldn't find the outlet.
I looked and I looked.

So I dumped a cup of water down the drain. Swoosh, down the drain it went, gurgle gurgle twank twank ---- it spilled down the skidplate and found it's exit by the left wheel at the axle opening.

:Wow1:

No way to direct the grey water away from the nest. Hmmm. So if I do the dishes, I spill the grey water under my sleeping quarters.
Anybody see a potential problem with that? Like attracting critters (bears, raccoons, etc) and not treading lightly and all that?

I can remedy this by cutting the hose where it penetrates the floor and attaching more hose. Then I could direct that into a jerry-can when I use the sink and dispose of the water properly.

It's a real pretty trailer and we just had a great weekend camping in it. But I keep finding so many things that were half-assed or not thought through by a person who might actually camp. If it cost 30% less it wouldn't bother me...

The Jeep did not like towing this thing at all. Even using a Superchips Flashpaq set on "Towing" and with 93 octane fuel, it was pinging and could barely reach 45 mph going uphill.

Is that the same way the jeep towed the Conqueror? hopefully the comfort of the setup makes the other problems seem bearable.

 

[Hilldweller]

Is that the same way the jeep towed the Conqueror? hopefully the comfort of the setup makes the other problems seem bearable.

The Conqueror was lighter and towed easier.

But yes, the teardrop is much easier to set up and travel with. The dog can jump in without help, the bed is comfy, insulated walls, easy-to-access clothing storage, etc.

Like I said, it's the accumulation of the little things that weren't thought out, were done on the cheap, or just weren't done as promised.
My personal moral/ethical code wouldn't have let me sell a trailer that way. And I'm just having problems with that aspect of it.

 

[StumpXJ]

Sorry bout the troubles man, was hoping it would be everything you expected, especially because of the money spent. I would be torqued myself... Hopefully you can work out the small details to get it where ya want it. My grey water has an outlet, that has threads to attach a hose to. im sure you could rig it up the same way. I wouldnt want my grey water just dumping on the ground, especially not under the trailer.

As for the Jeep, its time for 4.88's, and a supercharger. Or a Hemi.

 

[StumpXJ]

Sorry bout the troubles man, was hoping it would be everything you expected, especially because of the money spent. I would be torqued myself... Hopefully you can work out the small details to get it where ya want it. My grey water has an outlet, that has threads to attach a hose to. im sure you could rig it up the same way. I wouldnt want my grey water just dumping on the ground, especially not under the trailer.

As for the Jeep, its time for 4.88's, and a supercharger. Or a Hemi.

 

[Hilldweller]

My grey water has an outlet, that has threads to attach a hose to. im sure you could rig it up the same way. I wouldnt want my grey water just dumping on the ground, especially not under the trailer.

That's what was in the video and what I expected. But it looks like another one of those things they forgot until it was too late.
The skid plate covers all access to that area and is welded in place. The only way in there is to cut a hole.
We could cut a door of course...

I'm picturing the manufacturing process and what they hoped I wouldn't notice or care about.

It was supposed to have a battery isolater; not there. Not really the right kind of charger for Optimas anyhow; I provided the batteries' specs early to make sure they sourced the right kind of charger. It really should be charging at a higher voltage.

Supposed to be prewired for solar; not there.

Supposed to have a propane tank mounted below the stove; not there.

Batteries had to be moved at the last minute to that location since they had originally been mounted to the tongue.

No secure latching for fridge and stove; yes they do break free after a few good bumps on the trail.

No access to grey water outlet.

Can't remove the water tank; I was told it would be removeable.

The video said all LED lighting inside; there was no LED lighting.

Fenders don't fit.

That's not even getting on the fit and finish ---- the caulking on the lights, the molding that is cut too long and just left to flap around, the door molding that fell off on the first day.

We had discussed the tail lights before the build and I was left with the impression that they would be different.

Landing gear that can't be deployed without ripping off the license plate --- so the feet were removed and left on the counter.

The awning was forgotten about, overlooked, and I was told it didn't arrive. Martyn tracked it, saw that it had arrived. It was installed improperly and flopped around ---- turned out to be the wrong awning anyhow and I took it off when I got home. I'm working with Martyn to return it. I had to spend $60 to buy the correct mounting brackets for the roof rack ---- it was just one of those things that was supposed to be included though.

Tongue box is a piece of old cheese and warped, hard to close.

If they were really really reputable and cared about quality, I think they should drop back, punt, and build me another one. Do it right.

 

[The Swiss]

No way to direct the grey water away from the nest. Hmmm. So if I do the dishes, I spill the grey water under my sleeping quarters.
Anybody see a potential problem with that? Like attracting critters (bears, raccoons, etc) and not treading lightly and all that?

Nope, don't see no problem with that. But I did made a mental note to myself to camp as far away from you as possible and have my camera ready as you apparently will be our bear bait :elkgrin:

 

[Hilldweller]

Chris just replied to my latest email and said he'd been out of town.


Michael,
Just for that, I'm going to tie a pork-chop under your RTT. :sombrero:

 

[StumpXJ]

That's what was in the video and what I expected. But it looks like another one of those things they forgot until it was too late.
The skid plate covers all access to that area and is welded in place. The only way in there is to cut a hole.
We could cut a door of course...

I'm picturing the manufacturing process and what they hoped I wouldn't notice or care about.

It was supposed to have a battery isolater; not there. Not really the right kind of charger for Optimas anyhow; I provided the batteries' specs early to make sure they sourced the right kind of charger. It really should be charging at a higher voltage.

Supposed to be prewired for solar; not there.

Supposed to have a propane tank mounted below the stove; not there.

Batteries had to be moved at the last minute to that location since they had originally been mounted to the tongue.

No secure latching for fridge and stove; yes they do break free after a few good bumps on the trail.

No access to grey water outlet.

Can't remove the water tank; I was told it would be removeable.

The video said all LED lighting inside; there was no LED lighting.

Fenders don't fit.

That's not even getting on the fit and finish ---- the caulking on the lights, the molding that is cut too long and just left to flap around, the door molding that fell off on the first day.

We had discussed the tail lights before the build and I was left with the impression that they would be different.

Landing gear that can't be deployed without ripping off the license plate --- so the feet were removed and left on the counter.

The awning was forgotten about, overlooked, and I was told it didn't arrive. Martyn tracked it, saw that it had arrived. It was installed improperly and flopped around ---- turned out to be the wrong awning anyhow and I took it off when I got home. I'm working with Martyn to return it. I had to spend $60 to buy the correct mounting brackets for the roof rack ---- it was just one of those things that was supposed to be included though.

Tongue box is a piece of old cheese and warped, hard to close.

If they were really really reputable and cared about quality, I think they should drop back, punt, and build me another one. Do it right.

Id put all of this in communication (email, phone call etc) with him and see what he does. You did get the build contract for the extra 'Hilldweller edition' stuff in writing right? What did the last email say....

Its painfully obvious you arent happy with it, give him the opportunity to correct it to your satisfaction or go after him legally.

 

[Honu]

Sorry to hear the issues and hope the guy realizes he should do things correct cause its the right thing to do

 

[Hilldweller]

Id put all of this in communication (email, phone call etc) with him and see what he does. You did get the build contract for the extra 'Hilldweller edition' stuff in writing right? What did the last email say....

Its painfully obvious you arent happy with it, give him the opportunity to correct it to your satisfaction or go after him legally.

Legal action is the last thing I'd want to do.
I'm still tired and only half there after the cancer treatment; that along with arthritis is the purpose for the build in the first place.

And, I might as well air it now, Mirtes has a couple of tumors in her neck and they have to be treated pronto.
The big one is in her thyroid and the little one might be parathyroid or might be thyroid; they'll know more when they get in there and dig around a bit. And the entire scope of treatment won't be determined until the mass is on a tray and biopsied.

So we really didn't want a hassle. We just wanted a trailer that worked, would be fun, and easy to live with.

 

[XJBANKER]

Let him know how you feel. Having gone through Chemo myself, I can understand that somethings are more of a irritation than they really are and it is easy to see that everything is wrong. Go over the list think of what you talked about, how you got the imopressions of what would be different and talk to him and see what can be fixed. You deserve to get what you wanted, you are the one that paid for it and you didnt buy it as is at auction so you should be happy.