My first camper! So exciting!

[tombodad]

Just bought my first ever truck camper. I havent done anything but drive it home... and I already love it! haha.

It's a 1993 Northland 8', fully self-contained.

Everything is in great shape, and it was only $1400!! The prices these go for around here, they should have gotten at least $2500, if not 3k.

In great shape, considering the age. AFAIK, everything works. I say As Far As I Know because it didn't have a battery, and the propane was empty, so couldn't test much. Everything looks really good though.

First order of business, obviously, is cleaning (for my wife) and testing (for me).

Hook up the propane and Plug in power, and start finding out what needs what.

I know it's winterized, anything to do to undo that, other than put plugs back in, check connections, and rinse out the tanks?

Is it a good idea to run bleach water or something through the freshwater tank?

I need a battery... recommendations?

I don't have tiedowns yet, researching between happijack, torklift, and make my own.

 

[The Swiss]

Congratulations! Looks like you got a steal! I guess cleaning and testing is in order for this weekend and a test-camping-trip for next

 

[Overland Hadley]

Congrats on joining the TC club!

Is it a good idea to run bleach water or something through the freshwater tank?

I need a battery... recommendations?

Yes, definitely run a couple cycles of bleach water through the water system. Start with a strong solution of bleach, and end with flush of clean water.

I like DieHard Platinum Deep Cycle batteries from Sears.

 

[tombodad]

Yep, cleaning and fixing today and this week. Then next weekend meeting my dad for a fathers day campout.
Thanks for the tip on the battery.

So pretty much any deep cycle car battery, as large as will fit?

Question, does the battery charge as you drive, or only from shore power?

 

[FishPOET]

Yep, cleaning and fixing today and this week. Then next weekend meeting my dad for a fathers day campout.
Thanks for the tip on the battery.

So pretty much any deep cycle car battery, as large as will fit?

Question, does the battery charge as you drive, or only from shore power?

If your truck is wired properly you can charge the house battery in the camper from your alternator.

I run a Die Hard Platinum as well and it is as large as will fit.

 

[tombodad]

And what is "wired properly?" is this a separation operation than just the 7pin trailer plug? Would I need to run another wire from the alternator in the truck?

 

[FishPOET]

If your truck and camper are already wired for a 7 pin plug then the alternator should charge the battery in the camper provided everything is wired correctly.

You need to make sure the camper battery is isolated from the truck battery.

 

[tombodad]

Gotcha. I never knew there was a power pin in there. I guess it makes sense for trailer brakes and all.

 

[tombodad]

Thanks!

It's not on barrels, that was at the previous owner's place. It's still in the back of my truck for now, as I haven't yet figured out where to put it :B

Got a lot done yesterday:

Picked up an EverReady Maxx group 29 for $110. Just barely squeezes in.
Had to build a little block support for the battery box. After getting it in, realized the non maxx version ($20 cheaper) had a high amp hours I think. Oh well, this one is better quality should last longer, and longer warranty.

Got all of the electrics tested. The bathroom light and fan don't work. May have something to do with the soft roof above? (that's the only part of rot, and doesn't yet leak, just seeps. project for another day)

I've included a pic of the converter. Any tips/advice/knowledge would be great, I'm just sorta winging it.

As far as I can tell, this is one that charges the battery, and I believe those two 30A fuses mean that i can run a hot line from the truck's power to charge while running, right? Do I still need an isolator?

The fridge, Norcold, seems to work great. I turned it on electric only, and it was cool in the freezer area after about 30 min. Then I started playing with propane and that seemed to speed things along.

Question on the fridge. When you are driving, do you leave it on electric? does that maintain the cool, by using only the truck's power, and leave you with a cold fridge and full battery when you arrive?

Is it okay to leave propane on while driving? For fridge, furnace, etc?

I hooked up a hose to the water inlet. Not the tank, but the shore water, or whatever it's called. Lost of air and antifreeze came out, which is great.
Found two valves under the bathroom sink that go to outside, just drains?

Hooked the water heater back up. Haven't been able to get it to light yet. Doesn't seem to be getting any propane.

Haven't messed with the furnace at all yet, either.

Anyone hooked up a propane gauge/scale to keep an eye on how much is left? Gonna be a pain to just guess like I do on my bbq.

Then we stripped one wall, so my wife can paint. She's excited about a new place to decorate, and I figure, if she makes it how she wants it, she'll be more apt to want to go use it! Although I will probably put the kabosh on throw pillows. I hate those things. What the heck is the point of a pillow that you can neither throw, nor use as a pillow?

Still to do:

fill/flush fresh tank, check operation of water pump.

figure out why the water heater won't light (is the propane on this somehow inline with the water heater? is there a valve somewhere? :h

test the furnace

Find a hotline on the truck for running lights/charging (eventually I want to add more taillights to the camper. The brake lights on the truck are like 18" back in, and not as visible as I'd like. Brighter backup would be nice too. Supposedly, my truck (chevy 2500hd classic), should have a 7-pin harness somewhere, even without the camper package. Spent a while feeling around for it, found a rubber glove on top of the fuel tank, but no wires

rig up a better tiedown system for this weekend's Father's Day extravaganza. I'm actually pretty confident with the 10k straps to the frame on the front, and need to figure a way to match in the rear. Yes, getting torklifts eventually, no time yet. (may have some fabbed. I might add the front tiedown to the rearmost mount of a nerf bar... two birds and so forth)

Adventure!

 

[uriedog]

Great find. I have been looking for a small camper truck camper as well. With my trailer I run the fridge off 12v while driving. It works pretty good, and stays nice and cold in there. I have left it running on propane before but its hit or miss weather the pilot will remain on.

 

[Mark Harley]

Time to upgrade the mirrors on the truck.
Looks good!

 

[FishPOET]

As far as I can tell, this is one that charges the battery, and I believe those two 30A fuses mean that i can run a hot line from the truck's power to charge while running, right? Do I still need an isolator?

An isolator will allow current to flow from the truck to the camper to charge the house battery while not allowing the camper to drain the starter battery in the truck. A fuse only protects the circuit from too much current.

Question on the fridge. When you are driving, do you leave it on electric? does that maintain the cool, by using only the truck's power, and leave you with a cold fridge and full battery when you arrive?

Is it okay to leave propane on while driving? For fridge, furnace, etc?

Is it a 3 way fridge? (110, 12V, LP) If it runs on 12V then leave it on 12V while traveling. If you run it on LP while traveling you need to remember to turn it off while refueling. And the older fridges struggle with keeping the pilot light lit while traveling.

Anyone hooked up a propane gauge/scale to keep an eye on how much is left? Gonna be a pain to just guess like I do on my bbq.

One of my tanks has a gauge but it is not all that accurate. Do you have dual tanks? I just use one at a time and refill the empty as necessary.

 

[tombodad]

thanks for all the tips, guys!

It is not a 3-way fridge, it's just 2-way. Gas or 12V only. However, the 12V is charged by the truck when driving, and the 110 when plugged to shore, right? So even a 2-way can run on electric when it's plugged in, just it's going through the converter, rather than direct?

I will do some research on an isolator. Any suggestions for an affordable one?

And I do not have dual tanks, it only has room for one, and it's the regular bbq size. I guess I will just bring along a 2nd tank for now, until we figure out how long it lasts.

 

[FishPOET]

It is not a 3-way fridge, it's just 2-way. Gas or 12V only. However, the 12V is charged by the truck when driving, and the 110 when plugged to shore, right? So even a 2-way can run on electric when it's plugged in, just it's going through the converter, rather than direct?

That should be right

I will do some research on an isolator. Any suggestions for an affordable one?

If the wiring going from the alternator to the 7 pin plug is done correctly it will be isolated from your starter battery. Check that before looking for aftermarket isolators.

And I do not have dual tanks, it only has room for one, and it's the regular bbq size. I guess I will just bring along a 2nd tank for now, until we figure out how long it lasts.

Is your single tank vertical or horizontal?

 

[tombodad]

Time to upgrade the mirrors on the truck.
Looks good!

Definitely. Can't see a dang thing behind me! I will eventually get the OEM tow mirrors, but they run about $300 aftermarket or $450 from GM. Worth it in the long run... but too much right now.
Got a set of the CIPA slip-on tow mirrors, they get good reviews. $50 on Amazon. Should be here tomorrow in time for my short trip this weekend.
Also found a used set of Torklifts (brackets and stinger things, no turnbuckles) for only $275! They won't be here this weekend, but should e in time for our long trip. Planning a 10 ish day tour down into Cali in July.

If the wiring going from the alternator to the 7 pin plug is done correctly it will be isolated from your starter battery. Check that before looking for aftermarket isolators.

Any idea/links on how to be sure of that? GM's are set up from the factory (well, you have to add a fuse, and sometimes connect a lead) to provide a hot line to the 7-pin. But, it's my understanding that if not isolated, the camper will continue to draw power from your truck when not running, and could leave you stranded. Does the dual battery setup on my Duramax defeat this? I suppose I could remember to unplug the 7-pin when parked, but all it takes is once…

Is your single tank vertical or horizontal?[/QUOTE]
vertical, just the regular bbq type. Small, but at least it's easy to find more. Home Depot will trade them out for $17. Pretty fair deal, IMO.



In other news, I got the furnace and water heater running! I wasn't getting any gas to the water heater, but after I turned the furnace's thermostat on, the gas flowed. I don't know if a valve was stuck or there was an air pocket or what... but it's good to go now!

Filled the freshwater tank (looks like around 15 gallons?) with bleach water, tested out the water pump (works great, but can definitely see an accumulator would be nice), drained the tank. Will fill and rinse again before I use it all.


Tonight's projects are the truck wiring and possibly adding some taillights. I don't have wings, so I don't legally need them, but the camper overhangs the end of the bed by about 18", and the taillights are uncomfortably shrouded. I plan to extend the hot line from the front of the camper around to the back, then add some trailer taillights somewhere, and plug them all in together at the trailer connection on the hitch. Probably some reverse lights too, and maybe put these on a switch.