theboondork's RV blog

yay me

5/31/2019

Purple Iris in the sunset.

I finally figured out what was causing my taillight problems in the pop-up camper. When I wired in a new seven-point plug-in on the truck I wired it in the standard way but undiscovered by me until late yesterday afternoon the old seven-point plug in the camper wasn't wired the standard way it was close but a couple of wires didn't match the location in the plug that I put in the truck.

A person with normal electrical skills would've figure that out pretty quick, but when it comes to electrical things I long ago reached my level of least competency, which means I have sufficient skills to start an toelectrical project, but not enough to do it right.

So anyway the pop-up camper is now ready to go whenever I am. I've still got a small list of little things I would like to do, like for instance my taillights, brake lights, and turn signals are kinda dim, so I ordered some LEDs to replace the bulbs that are in there now. I would like to cover the roof skylight, and fantastic fan caulking with some EternaBond tape to make sure there's no leaks. And it really needs a couple of solar panels because most of what it will be doing is boondocking, and right now the only way the two batteries are being charged is when I'm driving the truck.

On other fronts. The sun is high enough in the sky now that the Arctic Fox batteries are fully charged by 10 o'clock in the morning. And speaking of the Arctic Fox I really need to take some time to straighten up the mess that has accumulated in the living room because of the projects I've been working on, but cleaning up, just like working on electrical things, is not one of my strong suits. And it's great living close to Walmart and a Home Depot, but it sure cost a lot more to live when spending money is that convenient.

And speaking of spending money conveniently, when I'm living in my daughter's yard, the best way to buy anything is through Amazon, and in a city the size of Denver Amazon not only delivers some things in 24 hours but makes multiple deliveries a day so I can get a package in the morning and another one in the afternoon. Shopping is so easy and the convenience is so great I figure by the time I leave here this Fall I'll be flat broke.

theboondork

Orange flowers.

4 Comments

Barney Ward link

5/31/2019 06:03:40 pm

Speaking of solar panels, lately I have been finding some decent prices on solar panels at the Home Depot online store. And since you mentioned the the solution to the tail lights, it reminded me that I used to carry around a conversion pigtail for tent camper I once had to solve the trouble. I am waiting to hear all about the five thousand pounds of excess weight you will take out of the Fox.

Tom

5/31/2019 08:09:04 pm

I didn't realize that Home Depot sold solar panels on the Internet. I checked them out and they do have a lot of panels and kits for sale.

I had been looking on Amazon and its kinda hard to compare the prices with Home Depot because what they're selling is slightly different from the other guy.

I used to be better with Trailer taillights when I had boats. Dipping a boat trailer in salt water every now and again will make you an expert in trailer taillight troubleshooting very quick. But since my boating days are way behind me hopefully never to return again, my taillight repairing skills has become, much like my boat trailers, rusty.

You obviously failed to read the fine print, how could I possibly reduce the weight of the Arctic Fox when everything in it is absolutely essential. Actually I'm vowing to ruthlessly reduce the weight GAIN of the Arctic Fox this summer. And sure enough the Arctic Fox has gained less than 100 pounds already. If I hadn't started reducing the weight GAIN the Arctic Fox would have grown by at least 500 pounds by now. It will be a struggle but I plan on pulling out of Denver this fall with less than a three or four hundred pound weight gain from when I pulled in, and that is a huge reduction of anticipated weight gain.

Tom.... The weather's toooo beautiful but I keep a coat handy just in case.

6/1/2019 09:22:29 am

What sort of miles range do you for see for the mini-vacations? I tend to keep mine under one days drive.

6/1/2019 11:07:23 am

That sounds about right. Most folks can get to anyplace in Colorado in a day especially if they're situated near the middle of the state like I am. And I picture most of my mini-vacations will be in Colorado since there's so much to see and do in the mountains, heck Rocky Mountain National Park is only about an hour and 1/2 from me. But inless you're a skier, snowboarder, or snowmobile rider summertime is about the only time you can do anything there.

I may branch out farther than that sometime in the future, like I mentioned before if I go visit the South I think it would be more fun and less stressful if I took the little pop-up. But for now there's still a lot I haven't seen in the high country, and a lot of places I would like to get back to that I haven't seen in a while.

But for now I'm just biding my time watching the snow levels slowly recede up the mountains waiting for the day when they get the high passes open.

Tom

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