Author Topic: Don's 2024 Palmino 3210 Camper (Read 46502 times)

JR · « **Reply #50 on:** May 08, 2024, 02:30:20 AM »

Did you paint it orange for that kinda damage? Gues I missed it, how did you damage it?

Good plan on the batteries, mine are great so far at the ridge.

Does it have a hot water heater on demand unit?

Flyin6 · « **Reply #51 on:** May 08, 2024, 09:10:29 AM »

Quote from: JR on May 08, 2024, 02:30:20 AM

Did you paint it orange for that kinda damage? Gues I missed it, how did you damage it?

Good plan on the batteries, mine are great so far at the ridge.

Does it have a hot water heater on demand unit?

Damage: just read back a few posts...wrecked it!

Yes, on demand water heater. I wish it did not have one, but it is what it is. This is the latest thing, but the old 6 gal hot water tanks worked much better I'm told.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #52 on:** May 13, 2024, 05:50:26 PM »

MUR: (Mundane Update Report) I have been getting a lot of little things done with the camper. Mostly I am seeing what it needs, where things fit, and ordering parts.

I ordered a Furoin 7" backup camera system. My Palamino is prewired for it so that installation will be easy and straightforward...Say goodbye to $540!!!

Next, I researched the Lippert ladder system. It's nothing big, just an expanding ladder with a couple of hooks to fit the ladder receptacle that is attached to my camper. Actually, I see no place to store that ladder, so dunno on that one. Maybe it will fit in the bed alongside the camper's body???

I ordered a soft start capacitor that should allow me to start the AC on 20 amps of power in lieu of the 30 it usually takes.

I noticed the camper rocks all over the place while sitting on the extended legs. so I am looking at a strut system to shore that up. we plan to dismount the camper in Wyoming for 4-5 days while we camp alongside a lake.

The slide and awnings work like a champ, so that's 100%, actually even better. Turns out the mechanics rebuilt the bottom of the slide-out with quality 3/4" plywood, whereas the factory built it with OSB. Holman motors overlaid that with aluminum sheeting to add strength and a moisture barrier. So, I guess its better than new!

I have been storing things, to determine where they need to fit and am knee-deep in figuring out how I will mount a generator to the back bumper. I am thinking I can get away with the solar and lithium support I already have if I add a small 2KW gas generator. So I want to add a cabinet to house the generator and get a little more storage space. Something like an upright wall locker will do, I am thinking.

So that's where it is today...Work continues as we close down to 7-ish weeks prior to departure on the big trip this year.

Atkinsmatt · « **Reply #53 on:** May 13, 2024, 06:22:48 PM »

One possibility for the gen set is a front mount for the truck. Maybe a receiver and hitch hauler kind of set up.

JR · « **Reply #54 on:** May 13, 2024, 06:27:11 PM »

I have to be fugal watching you spend!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #55 on:** May 14, 2024, 11:31:22 AM »

Quote from: Atkinsmatt on May 13, 2024, 06:22:48 PM

One possibility for the gen set is a front mount for the truck. Maybe a receiver and hitch hauler kind of set up.

Thought about that
But
I don't like the idea much. From what I've seen of these setups, the truck gets long, and if you bump anything up front, well...

I have a "Fat lower lip bumper and rear step for the camper. There's enough room for a modest box there.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #56 on:** May 17, 2024, 08:20:59 PM »

I picked up a Furion back up/rear view camera:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #57 on:** May 17, 2024, 08:21:55 PM »

It fits in a prewired factory spot:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #58 on:** May 17, 2024, 08:24:42 PM »

Four screws later and the factory cover is off, and you can access the wiring. In my case I had to unclip the factory harness back to the receptacles and reinsert the new camera wires.

Then you tuck in the wires and reinstall the camera.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #59 on:** May 17, 2024, 08:26:56 PM »

I will mount the 7" monitor screen from one arm of my dash-mounted Bullit mount system. I am currently awaiting a 20mm ball to complete that mount setup. Ram conveniently provides a 12VDC power source right at the mount site!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #60 on:** May 17, 2024, 08:28:25 PM »

Everything worked when hooked up in the truck and the camera immediately paired to the monitor, however for some reason, I cannot get power to the camera from the supplied wire in the camper...Hmmm

I have sent an inquiry to Forest River to help sort this out.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #61 on:** May 17, 2024, 08:29:52 PM »

And just so I have a photo reference, here is the factory-installed Renogy LiPo 100 Ahr battery:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #62 on:** May 17, 2024, 08:31:04 PM »

There is quite a bit to come in the next 6 weeks before launch, but for now here it sits:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #63 on:** May 17, 2024, 08:32:42 PM »

Oh, and the folding aluminum steps just showed up. I am no fan of the factory "Lunge and reach for your life" Factory single step. Good for a long ballistic stretch and for falling and twisting one's ankles, but little else.

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #64 on:** May 18, 2024, 08:19:19 PM »

Glad its repaired and back to operational status

Flyin6 · « **Reply #65 on:** May 18, 2024, 09:45:10 PM »

Quote from: TexasRedNeck on May 18, 2024, 08:19:19 PM

Glad its repaired and back to operational status

Thank ya!

And Kat is busily girlying up the inside...(gritting my teeth emoji)

Flyin6 · « **Reply #66 on:** **Today** at 06:19:49 PM »

Today I installed the soft start capacitor. Theory of operation: Normally when things like AC units start they pull a very heavy surge of power, and that is why some campers have 30 amp and others have a 50-amp power requirement. The idea is to shove a ton of amperage at the motor to overcome the resistance of getting a high pressure pump, for example to just start to move fluid.

The idea of a soft-start capacitor is to prevent that initial surge of power, and instead, allow power to just ramp up more slowly. This means it takes far less power to get an AC in this example to start. Of course, it will not be cooling as fast initially, but that is the price. Now on the good end, the power requirement for the camper falls dramatically, meaning we may be able to power the unit from more places, like an extension cord, or from a small generator.

That's what we will be testing today.

We are starting with a Briidea soft-start capacitor:

Flyin6 · « **Reply #67 on:** **Today** at 06:21:56 PM »

The installation is straightforward and not difficult, although some parts of the install can be a little "worky."

I start by pulling off the fiberglass cover from the 10K roof-mounted unit.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #68 on:** **Today** at 06:22:55 PM »

Next, I removed the control center access cover where the capacitor is located.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #69 on:** **Today** at 06:24:50 PM »

You will need to crimp on several space ends, male and female, but after that, it is nearly a "plug and play" affair.

Apologies for the "ugly-foot" photo bomb!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #70 on:** **Today** at 06:27:17 PM »

After that, I buttoned it all back up and with only an extension cord running from a 15 amp wall receptacle, I turned the thing on.

It ran flawlessly for about 35-40 minutes, when, fully satisfied it was working without issue, I turned it back off again.

This is a huge success, which means I can carry just my small 2K HF generator to power the AC if needed during this summer's adventures...Yippee!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #71 on:** **Today** at 06:29:04 PM »

BTW, the thing was all wobbly, so I set it down on two automotive jackstands and a 52" piece of 2x6 fir and got most of the wiggle out of it. It is resting solidly in those jacks while still having all the electric post jacks still contacting the ground as well.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #72 on:** **Today** at 06:30:01 PM »

Playing with the flush mount windows. They work exceedingly well!