New Van...

[Pedro_The_Swift]

caravancampingsales.com.au (https://www.caravancampingsales.com.au/items/details/2017-crusader-excalibur-prince/OAG-AD-20098634/?Cr=1)


New question!

This thing has DEXTER sway control wired into it.

Am I reading the pdf right where it has 4 individual brake wires coming out of the dexter?

are these the ONLY brake wires?

can I disconnect the dexter by just cutting its power cable?

Should I?

I know the RRS has its own trailer sway thing going on..

[Graeme]

Normally power for van sway controllers is via a specific colour Anderson plug from the tow vehicle so that the lead can be unplugged for those times when van DSC is inappropriate, such as on rough tracks. Normal braking is unaffected so fitting a switch of suitable current capacity in the power lead to the controller should be OK. You could test this by disconnecting the controller from the van battery if the controller has been installed as recommended.
My van's Alko controller is powered from the white plug along with the reverse lights that I fitted, so van DSC is easy to disable when required. Normally I have van DSC connected although a few times I've thought to disconnect it when the van's brakes have been applied after hitting bumps at speed.

[Geedublya]

Leave it connected. The car sway control can only try and stop the car moving. The van sway control will slow the van down and brake individual wheels to help control the sway to prevent it trying to overtake the car.

Reading the diagram the brake signal goes through the dexter box before connecting to the individual brakes. The brakes have to be wired correctly for each side for the sway controller to work. You also require a Dexter compatible brake controller.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Thanks Graeme,, you too Tote[smilebigeye]


I bet the establishment selling the van doesnt mention about the brake controller...

so the dexter stuff wont work even just left alone?
hmm...


talking about establishments,,,

rang the salesman and asked for pics of the advertised two batts, got a call back saying Oh Dear, there is only one! and its the wrong size! Then I said, well is now a good time to check on the TWO 170W panels on the roof? another call back saying Oh Dear! there is only one! Hang up on my end. Another call,, this time from The Boss saying they cant source another panel by delivery time tomorrow,, whatever can we do to make amends? I say bolt in three new 105ah agms and call it square.
Now just think kind thoughts of me as I explain all that to Mrs Pedro...

We are converting to lithium anyway so all these will be sold off. Already set up the local sparky to load the roof up with solar.

[Tombie]

Thanks Graeme,, you too Tote[smilebigeye]


I bet the establishment selling the van doesnt mention about the brake controller...

so the dexter stuff wont work even just left alone?
hmm...


talking about establishments,,,

rang the salesman and asked for pics of the advertised two batts, got a call back saying Oh Dear, there is only one! and its the wrong size! Then I said, well is now a good time to check on the TWO 170W panels on the roof? another call back saying Oh Dear! there is only one! Hang up on my end. Another call,, this time from The Boss saying they cant source another panel by delivery time tomorrow,, whatever can we do to make amends? I say bolt in three new 105ah agms and call it square.
Now just think kind thoughts of me as I explain all that to Mrs Pedro...

We are converting to lithium anyway so all these will be sold off. Already set up the local sparky to load the roof up with solar.

So you've just wiped 110kg off your payload... How much have you got left now?

[Graeme]

You also require a Dexter compatible brake controller.I didn't see anything special about the brake controller. Is there fine print that I glossed over or are you referring to the need to have a brake controller as well as this device?

[Geedublya]

There is a Technical Bulletin from Dexter I found that lists the compatible brake controllers. It lists the requirement for a resistor when using the Redarc.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Will reply tomorrow arvo, responding to all on a phone is beyond me.. [emoji108]:)

[Pedro_The_Swift]

So you've just wiped 110kg off your payload... How much have you got left now?


about 790kgs...[wink11]

will have to add some for more solar, but then the change to lithium will take care of all that..

[knp]

Hey Pedro nice van.

[Tombie]

about 790kgs...[wink11]

will have to add some for more solar, but then the change to lithium will take care of all that..

[emoji106]. Cool - it’s a nice looking unit.

Out of curiosity, Have you weighed it?
That tare is usually the base spec of that model, so any upgrades in it will likely not have been accounted for.

Interested to know how it does come in when you check it.

[Arapiles]

Nice ... that's actually bigger than my first couple of apartments in Tokyo. Much bigger than any of my dorms.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Just towed it from Redcliff to Kingaroy, first tow, at night, up the D'agular.
The bloody thing just kept going faster! such an amazing engine.
Pics in the morning...[wink11]

[incisor]

Good to hear you are happy!

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Some work booked in, 2x200w solar panels to make 600 all up, 2x200ah itech lithium batts from WA to replace the agms, installation of a new Victron 100/50 smart charger, a seperate 240v inverter circuit to power a cpap machine and laptop charger, new stereo speakers and head unit, van wheel bearings checked and stoopid roller rocker suspension checked and serviced.
Also on the wishes of Mrs Pedro we are getter darker tint from the b pillar back...

[Saitch]

Strewth! You could fit my van inside yours. Looks good, Mr. Swift.
Or, is that now 'Swifter'?

[Geedublya]

Some work booked in, 2x200w solar panels to make 600 all up, 2x200ah itech lithium batts from WA to replace the agms, installation of a new Victron 100/50 smart charger, a seperate 240v inverter circuit to power a cpap machine and laptop charger, new stereo speakers and head unit, van wheel bearings checked and stoopid roller rocker suspension checked and serviced.
Also on the wishes of Mrs Pedro we are getter darker tint from the b pillar back...

Nothing wrong with roller rocker suspension in my opinion. It shares the load unlike the independent set ups I see (unless they use a linked airbag system). I replaced the shackle pins with greasable ones and lubricate them and the rocker at regular intervals.
People are going to independent suspensions because they are the latest fad but they bring a whole host of other problems with them such as more wear items and wheel alignment problems.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Its technology from two centuries ago Geedublya,, suspension driven exclusively by price.
Our Golf had full independent in 1990, tyres still wear dead flat, van still tracks straight.


As a matter of interest, the Golf, in a few departments, is still ahead of the Crusader....[bighmmm]

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Jacking points,,

There are square outriggers reaching the side of the van, but its only tubing welded onto the chassis,
on the Golf there was just room to squeeze a bottle jack in between the tyres, though tyre swing made it tricky,
on this one I'm not sure that vertical suspension arm is the right choice,
So, on the chassis rail, in front or behind?
amount of lift? wheel travel expected?

as always, all comments welcome.[smilebigeye]








Someone want to have a go at explaining the physics of jacking a van with two immovable pivot points?[bighmmm]

[Homestar]

Not sure what articulation your suspension has but I've seen these in action first hand at a caravan park - always been thinking about getting one for the Viscount as that has no jacking points either - you have to place a jack under the axle to get it off the ground but I haven't worked out if it has enough lift - you'd probably need to do some homework and measuring if it is of interest. My guess is that it would work as there's tonnes of standard load sharing axles out there. Alternate would be a block of wood with an angle cut on it which would work just as well, but heavier.


https://youtu.be/-jE_x_TjlOI

[Pedro_The_Swift]

That looks too easy,. Must be a trap.. Just looked at the Ozzie website and there's no mention of it...

[incisor]

Andersen Rapid Jack Caravan Levellers (https://caravanandrvparts.com.au/product/andersen-rapid-jack/)

[thumbsupbig]

[Pedro_The_Swift]

New stuff mostly in,, Victron 100/50 installed, 2x200 watt solar panels, 2 x200ah itech lithiums, 3x2port usb wall warts, stand alone 230v inverter circuit, one double pole double outlet at the club lounge end to charge/run laptops and the same at the bedroom end to run cpap machine. Not a shadow to be seen anywhere and the victron connect app shows 12A coming in...[smilebigeye]

Todays question is!

What type of G4 aerial should I run on the roof?

Something between mild and wild please...

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Right genny, right place right time, fair price. Too good to pass up.
https://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/products-image/500/EF2400is_500.jpg

The problem was where to actually carry it. No-one local would extend the A-arm and though it would fit inside the shower... lugging it outside every time would be a pain.
The rear was not really an option, at first. no-one really wants to put an extra 50kgs on the back bumper,, even if i could. but then I looked underneath and---
174329174330

the bar should literally just slide out
Todays mission is to see if I have a socket that size and relocate that bar!

any thoughts on how close to the tube end I can go? is crushing an issue?

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Just to digress a bit....

The SDV8 gets around 8kays per litre towing Rosie...
and a full 8.5kg LPG bottle will run a 185 Dometic 24/7 for 7 days...

[Tombie]

Just to digress a bit....

The SDV8 gets around 8kays per litre towing Rosie...
and a full 8.5kg LPG bottle will run a 185 Dometic 24/7 for 7 days...

At…..

Without avg speed fuel burn is irrelevant [emoji2]

[Pedro_The_Swift]

At the posted limit of 100,, most of that was into a mad headwimd too.. its so good at around 1700 rpm... Best Ever LR engine.

[trout1105]

Just to digress a bit....

The SDV8 gets around 8kays per litre towing Rosie...
and a full 8.5kg LPG bottle will run a 185 Dometic 24/7 for 7 days...

I get about 2 weeks out of a 8.5kg bottle running the same sized fridge and the hws[thumbsupbig]
How much did you pay for the Yamaha genset?

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I get about 2 weeks out of a 8.5kg bottle running the same sized fridge and the hws[thumbsupbig]
How much did you pay for the Yamaha genset?

Hmmm... boiling that kettle every morning must use more than I thought...
under 2k..

[trout1105]

Hmmm... boiling that kettle every morning must use more than I thought...
under 2k..

Good price on the genset[thumbsupbig]
I never cook inside the van, I use one of those little gas cookers for the billy and veggies and use the webberQ or the campfire for everything else.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

We never cook outside the van,,[bigrolf]

Had Rosie on a High peperoni diet,, she's gained a few pounds on the bum...[bighmmm]

and a hint for other newbs, they sell imported genny's completely dry, no oil or fuel. I think they must actually run them out of fuel...

[trout1105]

My Honda genset came with a bottle of oil and a fancy little funnel to fill up the sump, Buggered if I can find that funnel any more.
I should get a longer life out of the gas bottle now that the 3 way fridge has decided that it doesn't want to run on gas.
The likely culprit is the gas jet but I wouldn't have a clue where that is.
We are heading to Exmouth at the end of the week so I will get it sorted there.
In the meantime I am running the 3 way on AC via the inverter on the 79 series..